Power regenerating device and system

ABSTRACT

A power regenerating device for regenerating the power readily in homes or offices. A jumper wire has one end engaged with a metal frame of a door and has its other end connected to a junction of first and second diodes. When the potential of the metal frame is positive, the stray current of the metal frame flows to the jumper wire, to the first diode and to the capacitor so as to charge the capacitor. When the potential of the metal frame is negative, the stray current flows to the capacitor, second diode and to the jumper wire to charge the capacitor. An output voltage may be taken at both ends of the capacitor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a power regenerating device, and system, for regenerating the stray power of the commercial power source in homes or offices to render its utilization as a new power source possible.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] In homes or offices, power lines as the commercial power source are laid and connected to a variety of pieces of electrical equipment. The commercial power source in Japan, which is usually 50 or 60 Hz AC, is subjected to leakage from the interconnections to a main power source of the electrical equipment even though the main power source of the electrical equipment is turned off. Such leakage of the commercial AC power source may be readily identified by observing a casing, say for each piece of equipment by, for example, an oscilloscope.

[0005] As the equipment becomes smaller in size and diversified, power is required in a variety of situations. There is a battery as a power source which is not dependent on the wiring of the commercial power source. Although higher in the degree of freedom in mounting, the battery is consumed sooner or later. This represents a significant drawback of the battery as compared to the commercial power source as long as the energy as the power source is concerned. If this point is improved, the battery proves a highly convenient power source. A solar cell represents one solution and is put to practical use in, for example, an electronic calculator. This system, however, has a major drawback in that it cannot be operated in the absence of light, such that the solar battery cannot be used safely in equipment which is used all day long. On the other hand, there are many occasions where the power is required in places, such as in a room, where it is difficult or undesirable to lay the commercial wiring. It would be convenient if local power generation were possible, even if the power generated is small.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a power regenerating device which is able to regenerate power easily, even in a room.

[0007] Thus, the present invention provides a power regenerating device including an electrically conductive connection wire having its one end engaged by an external good conductor, a unidirectional element having one end connected to the other end of the electrically conductive connection wire, and a capacitor connected to the other end of the unidirectional element to constitute a current path, wherein the power is taken at both ends of the capacitor.

[0008] With the above-described configuration, the power can be taken from the capacitor by a simplified structure. Of course, the voltage produced at both ends of the capacitor may be divided to use the so-produced fractionated voltage.

[0009] The present invention also provides a power regenerating device including an electrically conductive connection wire having its one end engaged by an external good conductor, a diode series circuit made up of a pair of diodes connected in the same direction of current conduction, the other end of the electrically conductive connection wire being connected to a junction of the paired diodes, and a capacitor connected in parallel with both ends of the diode series circuit, wherein the power is taken at both ends of the capacitor.

[0010] With the above-described configuration, the power can be readily taken from the capacitor. The diode series circuit used may be a commercially available diode bridge type product.

[0011] With the configuration of the present invention, the power straying from the ac power source may be recovered by a simplified structure for re-utilization.

[0012] Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments and the Drawings

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]FIG. 1 shows the structure of a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 2 illustrates the operation of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

[0015]FIG. 3 illustrates a modification of the first embodiment;

[0016]FIG. 4 illustrates another modification of the first embodiment;

[0017]FIG. 5 illustrates a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0018]FIG. 6 illustrates a third embodiment of the present invention;

[0019]FIG. 7 illustrates the operation of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 6;

[0020]FIG. 8 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

[0021]FIG. 9 illustrates a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

[0022]FIG. 10 illustrates a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

[0023]FIG. 11 illustrates the operation of the sixth embodiment shown in FIG. 10; and

[0024]FIG. 12 illustrates a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025]FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a power regenerating device 100 is made up of diodes 1, 2, a capacitor 3, and jumper wires 4, 5. The jumper wire 4 is used for deriving the induction power and is engaged with a door 200, having a metal frame 201, or with a sash window. The object for engagement may be a frame of a heating unit, a casing of a refrigerator or any object not explicitly grounded. The object for engagement explicitly grounded also may be applied depending on the degree of the grounding effect. The jumper wire 5, used for grounding, also may be omitted, if desired. The capacitor 3 may, for example, be an electrolytic capacitor.

[0026] The diodes 1, 2 are connected in tandem in the same direction, with the junction point thereof being connected over the jumper wire 4 to the metal frame 201, with the serial connection circuit being connected in parallel with the capacitor 3.

[0027] Across both ends of the capacitor 3 is connected a probe 301 of an oscilloscope 300 for measuring the induced power. In actual use of the power regenerating device 100, the oscilloscope 300 is not indispensable.

[0028] In the above structure, the current flowing in, for example, the metal frame 201 is full-wave rectified through a forward path of the diode 1 or 2 to flow through the capacitor 3 for charging. Across both ends of the capacitor 3 is produced a DC voltage of 2 to several volts, depending on the magnitude of the induced voltage.

[0029]FIG. 2 shows voltage charging characteristics with a capacitance of the capacitor 3 of 22 μF and with the use as a diode of 1S953 for silicon switching. In this case, the load is 10 M of a probe 301 of the oscilloscope 300, and a DC voltage of 1V was obtained in one minute.

[0030] The operation of the power regenerating device 100 of FIG. 1 is as follows: First, if the positive potential is generated over the jumper wire 4, the diode 2 is reverse biased, with the impedance being extremely high. So, the induced voltage undergoes only little attenuation. On the other hand, since the diode 1 is forward-biased, it is turned on to charge the capacitor 3. If a negative voltage is induced in the jumper wire 4, the operation is reversed from that described above.

[0031] Although the efficiency is halved, similar operations may be achieved by a combination of the diode 1 and a high resistance 6 a, which takes the place of the diode 2, as shown in FIG. 3, or with a combination of the diode 2 and a high resistance 6 b, which takes the place of the diode 1, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0032] A second embodiment 2 of the present invention is now explained. The second embodiment 2 uses a pre-existing diode stack (diode bridge) product. FIG. 5 shows a power regenerating device 100 of the second embodiment 2. In FIG. 5, to one input end of a diode stack 7 is connected the jumper wire 4, with the other input end of the diode stack 7 being opened. To an output end of the diode stack 7 is connected the capacitor 3 in parallel. In this case, diodes 7 a and 7 b of the diode stack 7 are used, while diodes 7 c, 7 cd are not used. The diodes 7 a, 7 b correspond to the diodes 2, 1 of FIG. 1, respectively.

[0033] Using D3SBA10, manufactured by SHINDENGEN, as the diode stack 7, and the capacitor 3 with the capacitance of 22 μF, the voltage across both ends of the capacitor 3 was measured with an oscilloscope in the same way as in FIG. 1. It was found that the voltage across both ends of the capacitor 3 reached 1030 mV in one minute.

[0034] A third embodiment 3 of the present invention is hereinafter explained. The third embodiment 3 drives an oscillator circuit by the power regenerating device of the present invention to generate an oscillation output. FIG. 6 shows a structure of the third embodiment 3. In this figure, an oscillator circuit 20 is connected in parallel across both ends of the capacitor 3. The oscillator circuit 20 is made up of a CMOS Schmidt trigger inverter (MC14584), a resistor 9 of 33 k and a capacitor 10 of 1500 pF. This oscillator circuit 20 starts its oscillation at an operating voltage of 1.6V to give pulses with a period of approximately 24 mS. These output pulses are shown in FIG. 7. Meanwhile, by reason of the circuit structure of the third embodiment 3, the oscillation frequency and the waveform depend on the induced voltage.

[0035] A fourth embodiment 4 is hereinafter explained. The fourth embodiment 4 is similar in structure to the third embodiment 3 except that the jumper wire 4 is connected to a frame of an ungrounded piece of routine equipment 13 (equipment with double-poles receptacles). FIG. 8 shows the fourth embodiment, in which the voltage induced across the equipment 13 and the oscilloscope 300 is large and even reaches 120 Vpp as observed simply with a 100:1 probe. The oscillator circuit 20 oscillated with a rectangular waveform as when a customary power source is applied. The voltage applied to an IC (Schmidt trigger inverter 8) also reached 2.4 V and oscillated with sufficient stability as an IC.

[0036] A fifth embodiment 5 is now explained. The fifth embodiment uses a tester 400 in place of the oscilloscope of the embodiment 4. The oscilloscope 200, used in the previous embodiments, is grounded, such grounding possibly giving rise to the effect so far discussed. So, in the fifth present embodiment 5, the tester 300 is used in place of the oscilloscope 200. In this illustrative structure, the voltage on reaching the equilibrium is 1.6 V, it being felt that the oscillation is occurring in this state, as in the embodiment 3. That is, the voltage can be taken out even if powerful grounding is not connected, thus confirming that the power can be generated in the absence of the grounding line. However, it is preferable to provide a grounding line.

[0037] A sixth embodiment 6 of the present invention is hereinafter explained. In the sixth embodiment 6, the power regenerating device of the present invention is combined with other DC power sources, such as a dry battery or a charging cell. The sixth embodiment 6 is shown in FIG. 10, in which the voltage of the power regenerating device 100 or that of a battery 500 is selectively applied through a switch 600 to a load 700. A processor 800 monitors the output voltage of the power regenerating device 100 over a signal line 801 to control the switching of the switch 600. As the switch 600, a universal analog switch, such as CMOS IC MC14016 by MOTOROLA may be used. Although the power is supplied to the processor 800, it also may be supplied from the power regenerating device 100, or selectively supplied by the switch 600 from the battery 500 or from the power regenerating device 100. Although the constant voltage is not supplied to the processor 600, a constant voltage circuit may be used in case the constant voltage is required.

[0038] The operation of the sixth embodiment 6 is shown in FIG. 11, in which voltages v1, v2 are determined based on the charging/discharging time constant of the capacitor 3 of the power regenerating device 100 or the voltage required for a load. It is here assumed that the switch 600 has been set to the side of the battery 500. When the output voltage of the power regenerating device 100, that is the voltage across both terminals of the capacitor 3, is gradually increased to reach a voltage level v2 at time t0, this state is discriminated by the processor 800 to set the switch to the side of the power regenerating device 100. As a result, the power is now supplied from the power regenerating device 100 to the load. If the capacitor 3 is discharged in a larger extent than it is charged, the output voltage of the power regenerating device 100 is decreased gradually. If the output voltage is lowered at time t2 to a level v1, this state is discriminated by the processor 800 to set the switch 600 to the side of the battery 500. As a result, the power is applied from the battery 500 to the load 700. From this time on, the power regenerating device 100 ceases to consume the power, as a result of which the output voltage is gradually increased. If the output voltage reaches the voltage level v2 at time t2, the switch 600 is set to the side of the power regenerating device 100. The above-described sequence of operations is repeated.

[0039] If, in the above-described structure, the voltage of the battery 500 is v1, an output voltage ranging between v1 and v2 is applied to the load.

[0040] A seventh embodiment 7 of the present invention is now explained. In the seventh present embodiment 7, plural power regenerating devices are combined to develop a power of a higher voltage. The seventh embodiment 7 is shown in FIG. 12 in which two power regenerating devices 100 are connected in tandem. In this structure, capacitors 3 of the power regenerating devices 100 are connected in series with each other and an output voltage is taken at both ends of the series circuit. In the present structure, the sum of output voltages v3, v4 of the two power regenerating devices 100, that is v3+v4, is taken as the output voltage. Of course, three or more power regenerating devices 100 may be combined to form a larger voltage output.

[0041] In the seventh embodiment 7, the power of the commercial frequency, induced in homes and offices, may be accumulated to generate the power. In a site where the laying of the power source wiring is difficult or undesirable, a power source which is small but durable may be furnished. Because of the extremely simple circuit structure, the power source of a low cost may be utilized. In addition, the power may be generated without incurring substantial cost, while maintenance is virtually unnecessary. Moreover, the power source which is not in need of light can be furnished permanently.

[0042] Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, those of skill in the art will recognize that changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the hereafter appended claims. 

I claim as my invention:
 1. A power regenerating device, comprising: an electrically conductive connection wire having a first end engaged by an external good conductor; a unidirectional element having a first end connected to a second end of the electrically conductive connection wire; and a capacitor connected at a first end to a second end of the unidirectional element to constitute a current path; wherein the power is taken at both first and second ends of the capacitor.
 2. A power regenerating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein an electrically conductive connection wire for grounding is connected to a second end of the capacitor opposite to the first end connected to the unidirectional element.
 3. A power regenerating device, comprising: an electrically conductive connection wire having a first end engaged by an external good conductor; a diode series circuit made up of a pair of diodes connected in a same direction of current conduction, a second end of the electrically conductive connection wire being connected to a junction of the pair of diodes; and a capacitor connected in parallel with both first and second ends of the diode series circuit; wherein the power is taken at both first and second ends of the capacitor.
 4. A power regenerating device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the electrically conductive connection wire for grounding is connected to an end of the capacitor.
 5. A power regenerating device according to claim 3, wherein the diode series circuit constitutes a portion of a diode bridge.
 6. A power regenerating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is not provided a resonance circuit.
 7. A power regenerating device, comprising: a diode series circuit made up of a pair of diodes connected in a same direction of current conduction, and a capacitor connected in parallel with both first and second ends of the diode series circuit; wherein a take-out part for taking out stray current of the diode series circuit is connected to a junction of the pair of diodes of the diode series circuit to take the power at both first and second ends of said capacitor.
 8. A power regenerating system, comprising: a plurality of power regenerating devices as claimed in claim 1, with the capacitors of the respective power regenerating devices being connected in series with one another.
 9. A power supplying system, comprising: the power regenerating devices according to claims 1, another DC power source and a switch for connecting the power regenerating devices and the DC power source to a load. 